A metric-based approach for predicting conceptual data models maintainability

It is generally accepted in the information system (IS) field that IS quality is highly dependent on the decisions made early in the development life cycle. The construction of conceptual data models is often an important task of this early development. Therefore, improving the quality of conceptual data models will be a major step towards the quality improvement of the IS development. Several quality frameworks for conceptual data models have been proposed, but most of them lark valid quantitative measures in order to evaluate the quality of conceptual data models in an objective way. In this article we will define measures for the structural complexity (internal attribute) of entity relationship diagrams (ERD) and use them for predicting their maintainability (external attribute). We will theoretically validate the proposed metrics following Briand et al.'s framework with the goal of demonstrating the properties that characterise each metric. We will also show how it is possible to predict each of the maintainability sub-characteristics using a prediction model generated using a novel method for induction of fuzzy rules.